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Tuesday, May 04, 2010

James Beard Awards 2010

Last night I attended The James Beard Awards2010 ceremony at Lincoln Center. James Beard was famous for initiating many things in the foodie world. Another was his huge bowtie collection.

Inside at Avery Fisher Hall the awards were being awarded.

Outside the theater a wild grazing event was going on provided by many previous award winners.

Guess where I was?

This incredible "soup" (yet to be poured) was the taste of the evening in my humble opinion. Made by super chef Kevin Binkley of Binkley's, Cave Creek AZ. You stirred the tiny spoonful of scallops into a leek soup of bacon, sun-dried tomato and mini oyster cracker. Words cannot describe the ecstacy.

More ecstacy from chef Curtis Duffy of the Chicago Peninsula - a verrine of Alaskan King crab in a cucumber consomme with a 3-sugar tuile on top you had to crack through. And I had such firm intentions of eating rien de tout...Ha!

Best New York restaurant award winner, Eleven Madison Park sous chef James Kent, who by the way will be representing the US at the 2011 January Bocuse D'or in Lyon.

Served this stunningly clever tiny caviar tin of Scottish salmon tartare and smoked mousse with Yuzu and trout roe.

An irresistable dessert of butterscotch budino(?) with sea salt, caramel sauce and a rosemary pine nut cookie from pastry chef Dahila Narvaez of Mozzo, LA. Major MIAM! A last treat but never least from JBF award winner Michelle Bernstein of chocolate-caramel crackle. I imagined I would save these for tomorrow. Quelle idiot! They were gone in a flash.

Awesome!Your painted chef's jacket takes the prize!!!!Mario Batali, naughty as ever,and the caviar tin makes me wonder how long it took them to assemble enough to tins for the event. Did you take yours home? I would have, of course. ;-)

Are those little bamboo plates in your photos this morning? Love the rosemary-pinenut cookie idea. The tiny scallops - where those cut from larger ones or those tastelesss little bay scallops? Can't tell if the soup was a clear one????

LAURA- everyone is on parade at the awards - they WANT their picture taken...just like the Westminster Dog Show...ahem :)

Yes MERISI, OF COURSE I took home that tiny caviar tin and longed to take home many,many more...

There are not many walls at Avery Fisher Hall - a fly would have a hard time, but yes it was amazing fun and impossible to see everybody and everything there. Though I don't think I missed ANY of the food. I got tossed out of the Press Room by a cop for not having a press pass. Bloggers are NOT press it seems to some folks. It's lucky I didn't get to wear a pair of silver bracelets.

it was such a pleasure meeting you last night. lovely website... and thank you for posting pictures of the food from last night!hope you enjoyed your crab dumplings and all the other amazing tastings. all the best,

Out here, there is such an awareness of season and sustainability. Not complaining about this. But it becomes, in some mouths, hands, very rigid. Yes, there are organic and very tasty cherry toms from Baja Ca. right now--- oh but they're not LOCAL. You'd never see King Crab at a do like you were at, here. It's on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's list of fish/shellfish to avoid. I follow all these rules and admire them. But I wish we could lighten up our rhetoric, a bit.

Where did that Parisien necklace come from, fantastic and it makes my new bright colour one look pale.What's best for people like me who cannot get out is you make us feel like we are out and looking with you.Thank you, Jill xxx

I was in NY last weekend, and after reading Thursday's Paris Breakfast, went by the James Beard house on Friday to see your watercolor paintings. They were very kind to show my friend and me around. I loved seeing your work! As a result I became a Foundation member, and therefore totally enjoyed your post this morning.Thanks for melding New York, food, and Paris so beautifully!Laurie

Whoa, you got that post up fast! I heard crazy stories from my coworkers, sounded like fuuun. Boo to getting thrown out though!... that sounds nuts.I don't like parties or awards shows so I don't think I would've enjoyed it, but someday, maybe. I mean, for the food..that sounds worth it.ToodlesRob